1. Was my ancestor an ordained minister? Many families have the
tradition that "great-grandpa was a circuit rider." Such family
history may or may not be accurate. All circuit riders were not ordained
clergy! If great-grandpa was not ordained, then most annual conference journals
will not have any record of him.

2. Where did my ancestor perform his or her ministry? Did your
ancestor pr(mch in Illinois? Where in Illinois? (There are three distinct
annual conferences in Illinois, each with its own records!) Find out the
specific geographical location of your ancestor's ministry.

3. What denomination did my ancestor belong to? Today's United
Methodist Church is the descendent of several predecessors, each of which kept
its own records. These denominations are: Methodist Episcopal Church
(1784-1939), Methodist Episcopal Church South (1845- 1939), Methodist
Protestant Church (1828-1939), Methodist Church (1939-1968), United Brethren in
Christ (1800-1946), Evangelical Association (1803-1922), United Evangelical
Church (1894-1922), Evangelical Church (1922-1946), Evangelical United Brethren
(1946-1968), United Methodist Church (1968-present).

Family records may give you
the answers to these questions, but don't give up if you can't answer them all.
The important thing to remember when you write for information is to include
all the pertinent information you have about the person. The more information
you can share, the better chance the researcher has to discover the information
you want. Additionally, many libraries and archives keep query letters and use
them to cross-check details and other information. You may know something that
will help someone else.

WHERE TO GO FOR HELP

1. The General Commission on Archives and History

P.O. Box 127, Madison, NJ 07940

201-408-3189 (general number); 201-408-3590 (library)

The GCAU maintains a card
file index of obituaries for ordained clergy in The United Methodist Church and
its predecessors. The index is extensive, but not complete, and there are other
sources available in the library. There are fees for research and copies;
please contact the library for information and the proper forms. The GCAH does
not collect local church records, and has very few personal papers of clergy.

2. Annual Conference Connuissions on Archives and History

Every annual conference has
an archives which does collect local records and maintains its own genealogical
sources. The GCAH staff can help you locate the appropriate name and address
for any given annual conference. A complete list in loose-leaf form is
available: The Archives and History
Directory, $3.00 plus $1.50 postage. Order from the GCAH; prepayment is
appreciated.

3. County and local libraries and historical societies

These often have church records,
histories, and newspapers that can be very helpful. They also know about area
genealogical societies and independent researchers who may be able to help you.

"UNITED METHOD-ESE"

Annual ConferenceAn organizational unit of The United
Methodist Church (and all predecessor churches), consisting of churches in a
given geographical area. There are currently nearly 70 annual conferences in
the United States. Clergy and lay delegates attend a business session each
year, usually in the early summer, at which time Clergy receive their preaching
appointments for the coming year. Financial business and other matters are also
addressed at this yearly meeting.

Annual Conference JournalPublished
every year, the journal contains detailed information about clergy, churches,
and ministries of an annual conference.

AppointmentThe preacher's assignment by the bishop of the annual
conference where the preacher holds his/her membership.

ChargeThe church or churches to which a pastor is
appointed.

CircuitA pastoral charge of two or more churches or
preaching places.

DeaconAn ordained minister who is a probationary or
associate member of an annual conference.

Disciplinary QuestionsQuestions
asked at every annual conference session which describe the complete business
of the annual conference. In early annual conference journals, the questions
and responses were printed in full.

DistrictA sub-unit of an annual conference,
consisting of a number of churches whose clergy are supervised by a District
Superintendent (formerly Presiding Elder).

ElderAn ordained minister who is a full member
("a member in full connection") of an annual conference.

ExhorterA person who was licensed annually to hold
meetings for prayer.

ItineracyA characteristic of United Methodism; the practice of
sending clergy each year to serve where the bishop assigns them.

Local Preacher/PastorIn the 19th century, often the
first step to full ordination. In annual conference journals, local preachers
were assigned to 'classes" designated Ist year, 2nd year, etc. This
process often led to ordination first as deacon, then as elder. Today, a local
pastor is approved annually to perform pastoral duties in a specific charge.
Local pastors are not ordained, do not itinerate, and are not required to have
a seminary degree.

OrdinationThe rite during which a bishop confers Holy
Orders upon a person who has received appropriate training and education for
the ministry.

Presiding ElderA 19th century term for the superintendent
of a district within an annual conference. The position is now termed "
District Superintendent."

SuperannuatedAn archaic term for ordained clergy who through age,
illness, or impairment, were permanently unable to perform any ministerial
service, although they remained members of the annual conference.

SupernumeraryAn archaic term for clergy who, by reason of impaired
health, were unable to perform ministry. The term signified a minister who
could not preach regularly, but was willing to serve as health permitted. In
the earliest annual conference journals, supernumerary clergy were not listed
as 'withdrawn."

They simply disappeared from
the clergy record.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Conference journalsAnnual conference journals are
the primary source of information about your clergy ancestor. Since the middle
of the 19th century, they have been published every year and contain detailed
statistical information about preachers and churches in the annual conference.
First turn to the section titled "Disciplinary Questions.' If you find
nothing there, turn to the obituary section of the journal. This contains
obituaries for all ordained clergy who died in the previous year as well as a
list of all ordained clergy who have died since the founding of the annual
conference.

If you can't find any help in the
obituaries, turn to the 'List of Appointments," usually found toward the
front of the journal. All the preachers' places of service will be listed
there. Still no luck? Many conference journals contained the names of local
preachers, either in a summary list or scattered through the journal.

Other possible sources of information are
the reports of presiding elders/district superintendents. Until recent years,
these reports were often chatty and filled with names of churches and lay
persons. (Some journals do not include these reports.)

Don't give up if you draw a blank. In
centennial years or other conference anniversaries, some journals contain special
sections listing complete pastoral records for every minister who ever served
in that annual conference. Some annual conferences listed the names of every
exhorter or local preacher in their journals. You will need to speak to a
knowledgeable person in the annual conference to discover if such information
exists.

General MinutesThe Minutes consist of
summaries of the statistical information in all of the denomination's annual
conference journals. All ordained clergy for every annual conference are listed
in the General Minutes each year. Each church is listed as well; the General
Minutes can help you determine to which annual conference a local church
belonged.

Conference historiesMany annual conferences have
written histories (published and unpublished), and some have biographical
dictionaries. Those written in the late 19th century are usually very detailed.
Unpublished histories are found in the archives of the annual conference;
published histories should be in the archives, in the annual conference
library, and in local college libraries.

Local church historiesMany
churches have published histories which are filled with names and events
important to the life of the congregation. They can be difficult to locate,
especially if the church no longer exists, but copies should be available in
the annual conference archives.

Encyclopedia of World MethodismThis
two-volume publication, printed in 1974 in limited edition, contains many
biographical entries.

County historiesIn the 1880s, many U.S.
counties published histories which include detailed information about
agriculture, business, education, and personalities. Church histories were
often included.

"Vanity" booksVanity books
are printed by individuals. Many clergy have published their reminiscences or
sermons in this way. In the 19th century, many memorial volumes for active
church women were also published. Check with the annual conference archives or
local library/historical society to see if your ancestor published anything.

Newspapers19th century newspapers (published by both secular and
church presses) printed marriage notices and obituaries. Check with the local
library and the annual conference archives to see if the newspapers for your
area have been indexed.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1.Where
do I write to find the names of people who can help me? See above under
"Where to go for help."

2.I can't
find my ancestor listed in any annual conference journal. What do I do?
Make sure your ancestor really was an ordained clergy person. If your forebear
was not ordained, it will be hard to find information.

3.I'm
trying to find information about a church that's been closed for fifty years.
Whom should I talk to? Try searching county histories and local history resources
at a local library. Also check the annual conference Board of Trustees' reports
in annual conference journals.

4.Do you
have any information on my ancestor? Researchers cringe at this question!
Please try to be specific with names, dates, etc.

5.Can you
send me all the information you have on Rev.____ ? Historians and
chairpersons of annual conference Commissions on Archives and History are
usually not in the genealogy business. An honorarium is appreciated if the research
is detailed and complex. Appropriate charges for photocopying should be
expected if you want in-depth research.

The General Commission has
photocopying and genealogical research fees. Write or call for information.

written
by Dr. John E. Sims, Historian, North Central Jurisdiction Member, General
Commission on Archives and History, 1988-1996